Is Anyone Here Besides Me Non-Mormon?

[The Nehor]

mtomm is right.  How well you get along here really does depend on your tone and style of posting.

How have I not been run out of town yet?

[saemo]

 The first Council stated that bishops were elected locally and not by the bishop of Rome. 

This is how patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic Churches are elected. No approval is required from the Bishop of Rome.

[bluebell]

Nehor-

 

You've been here long enough that we are all used to you. 

[Truth 101]

I grew up LDS but left the church when I was 16, as did my younger brothers, that was about eight years ago. I would rather come here to discuss issues pertaining to the church than to a website say.... exmormon.org

 

I want to talk to actual members about these issues, and this website seems to have diversity, whereas all the other websites are just a bunch of disgruntled ex mormons.

 

I have my own issues with the church, but I'm not bitter (well not TOO bitter anyway) towards the church. My mom and dad are both still TBM's

 

I am agnostic. There are similarities to what I believe happens after to death and the mormon church. For instance, Lorenzo Snow said, "As man is now god once was, as god is now man may become" I'm not sure if that was verbatim but I believe that. I believe transcendence never stops. However I don't think that our concept of god is a singular entity, and if it was, IMO, it would consider itself female and not male.

 

Any replies on this thread should go to the other one, my browser messed up and I accidentally created two of the same topic. Sorry bout that.

[Truth 101]

To savedbygrace, saemo, and storm rider: Ya I figured that out this morning, I will try to by as non abrasive as possible, thanks for the welcome!

[Truth 101]

oh and to answer anybody's questions I left the church 8 years ago and am now 24, I live in Utah County. I consider myself agnostic but some of my beliefs are similar to the LDS church. Such as the ability to transcend and become your own "god" if you will. I do believe in a higher power (atheists sadden me tbh(no offense to anybody here who is atheist btw)) but I don't think it's a singular entity that goes by the name Elohim. The higher power I believe in is hard to explain, kind of like a vast collective consciousness. IMO there is a creator and we are here because of intelligent design, I would think that this "creator" would be female, not male

[seriously honestly]

I'm a non-Mormon who hasn't removed their name yet either (which I guess in reality just makes me super inactive). 

[Garden Girl]

oh and to answer anybody's questions I left the church 8 years ago and am now 24, I live in Utah County. I consider myself agnostic but some of my beliefs are similar to the LDS church. Such as the ability to transcend and become your own "god" if you will. I do believe in a higher power (atheists sadden me tbh(no offense to anybody here who is atheist btw)) but I don't think it's a singular entity that goes by the name Elohim. The higher power I believe in is hard to explain, kind of like a vast collective consciousness. IMO there is a creator and we are here because of intelligent design, I would think that this "creator" would be female, not male

 

Interesting view... Why only female?   IMO we are, in accordance with the LDS view, spirit children of heavenly parents... male and female...

Why?  Because that seems to be the pattern... male and female... for the creation of life if you look all around us... at all forms of life, including plants.  There are very few species that have only one gender able to create life and these mostly live in obscure places like deep in the sea, etc.  I think certain mollusks are not gender specific, etc.   But the pattern seems to be male and female for the higher forms of life.    

So, in my view, I see our world here with its natural laws (including creation of life) as a microcosm of the larger universal order. 

 

GG

 

edit to add:  I guess this is actually off topic... I was just commenting on your stated view, Truth...

Edited March 11, 2014 by Garden Girl

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

I'm a non-Mormon who hasn't removed their name yet either (which I guess in reality just makes me super inactive).

I was just at the home of my former High Priest Group Leader...I just dropped of the missionaries. I was telling how hard it is to get to Church, and that my wife panda I never get to go together, because someone always has to be with my mother. Then I cut it short and said, Bro Fort, I am inactive, I just look inactive.

[Calm]

I'm an ex turned Catholic/Orthodox. There are a few of us here.

 

I still get my snark on from time to time but I think I've gotten better at this over the last 4 years.

But when you do, you do it so well.

[Calm]

I was just at the home of my former High Priest Group Leader...I just dropped of the missionaries. I was telling how hard it is to get to Church, and that my wife panda I never get to go together, because someone always has to be with my mother. Then I cut it short and said, Bro Fort, I am inactive, I just look inactive.

My husband got called into the branch pres. office when we were at BYU and asked if there was anything they could do for him and his inactive wife, poor guy. I would take off and walk home after SM and it being a huge branch as there are, the presidency hadn't met me yet.

Now it is a big deal if I make it to SM and I practically get a standing ovation from my neighbours. It is much nicer when one is around long enough that people get it and you can stop explaining why you aren't there no matter what the reason I bet.

[Coreyb]

No I haven't had my name removed. Too lazy on my part and I honestly am not bitter and don't care enough to get it done.

 

To BookofMormonLuvr: That is an excellent question, I've never met somebody who believes in the BOM but is not a member, so obviously there are gray areas. I guess by non-mormon in your case I would ask: Do you regularly attend church?

 

To bluebell: That is good to know I'm not the only one. I wouldn't want to be banned from posting here purely on my status with the church. Like I've said in posts I've posted in other threads I am not a bitter ex-mormon. I just like to challenge people's testimonies. 

Wrong forum, everyone here is already challenged

[Coreyb]

oh and to answer anybody's questions I left the church 8 years ago and am now 24, I live in Utah County. I consider myself agnostic but some of my beliefs are similar to the LDS church. Such as the ability to transcend and become your own "god" if you will. I do believe in a higher power (atheists sadden me tbh(no offense to anybody here who is atheist btw)) but I don't think it's a singular entity that goes by the name Elohim. The higher power I believe in is hard to explain, kind of like a vast collective consciousness. IMO there is a creator and we are here because of intelligent design, I would think that this "creator" would be female, not male

So, you can transcend and become a "god", but can only create things if you are female?

[Truth 101]

No, I said if if I were to believe in a single entity god it would be female IMO. That is not what I actually believe. I believe god is a collection of many different lines of cognitive thought.

[Truth 101]

which would include male AND female individuals

[Truth 101]

So, you can transcend and become a "god", but can only create things if you are female?

 

Again, see later posts. I was just saying that if there WERE a singular god, I would think it would be female rather than male. But I don't believe in a singular god.

[Truth 101]

24

[Truth 101]

25, finally, 25 posts.

[Damien the Leper]

Valentius;

 

I think one thing for sure, you're quite bouncy.

 

It's not necessarily bouncy. I have to look at history and theology to see where I best identify. This is in part why I couldn't be LDS any longer.

[Damien the Leper]

But when you do, you do it so well.

 

Aww schucks...

[followerofemmanuel]

Welcome to the board.  I consider to be a Christian, a follower of Christ, in pursuit of truth and open to life long learning.  I am on this board to understand more about LDS doctrine, not only as read on official websites, or even "anti" websites, but rather how it is lived out by everyday people.  LDS claim they are following a restored gospel, which I need to investigate truthfully before ever discounting.  I have been attending a Baptist Church for 16 years and was a practicing Catholic for 20 years plus.  I really don't believe in denominations.  A Christ follower, is a Christ follower.  I believe each denomination has good expressions of faith and that no church is perfect, because we are imperfect, and I believe the Church is made up of Christ followers.  That is where I am at in my journey

 

Blessings!

[Truth 101]

Welcome to the board.  I consider to be a Christian, a follower of Christ, in pursuit of truth and open to life long learning.  I am on this board to understand more about LDS doctrine, not only as read on official websites, or even "anti" websites, but rather how it is lived out by everyday people.  LDS claim they are following a restored gospel, which I need to investigate truthfully before ever discounting.  I have been attending a Baptist Church for 16 years and was a practicing Catholic for 20 years plus.  I really don't believe in denominations.  A Christ follower, is a Christ follower.  I believe each denomination has good expressions of faith and that no church is perfect, because we are imperfect, and I believe the Church is made up of Christ followers.  That is where I am at in my journey

 

Blessings!

 

I get what you're saying on that one, sometimes I tell people I'm christian instead of agnostic, because whether Jesus lived or not, the stories of him are there, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with striving to become more christ-like. Blessings to you as well.

[followerofemmanuel]

I get what you're saying on that one, sometimes I tell people I'm christian instead of agnostic, because whether Jesus lived or not, the stories of him are there, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with striving to become more christ-like. Blessings to you as well.

 

Some scriptures that I cling to.  I hope that they may be of encouragement to you in your own faith journey.

 

Deuteronomy 4:29

"But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul." 

 

 

Isaiah 45:19

I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob's descendants, 'Seek me in vain.' I, the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right.

Jeremiah 24:7

I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.

Amos 5:4

This is what the LORD says to Israel: "Seek me and live;

[MelodyMP3]

I am what the members of the local branch call an "Investigator"...or, as one dear lady at the ward calls me...a "dry Mormon."   
I'm still checking things out, researching, asking questions...if I could go on the friendliness and kindness of the congregation alone, I'd join in a heartbeat, but I am more interesting in confirming truth. 

[BookofMormonLuvr]

I am what the members of the local branch call an "Investigator"...or, as one dear lady at the ward calls me...a "dry Mormon."   

I'm still checking things out, researching, asking questions...if I could go on the friendliness and kindness of the congregation alone, I'd join in a heartbeat, but I am more interesting in confirming truth. 

Just so you are aware... There are several churches that spring from the experience Joseph Smith had with God and that value and use the Book of Mormon as sacred scripture. The LDS just happens to be the largest and most well-known.